NCC, Israel plan collaboration to curb cyberattacks

Israel has expressed interest in tackling cyberattacks in Nigeria in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission.

This was made known when a delegation from Israel made up of its Director Africa Department II, West and Central Africa, Barnea Hassid; the Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Israel, Abuja, Nadav Goren; and the Senior Economic Officer, Embassy of Israel, Florence Osuji, visited the NCC head office in Abuja.

In his remarks, Hassid informed the NCC that they had come to discuss areas of collaboration and interest with the commission.

According to him, some of the areas of interest are cybersecurity and how to address issues of cybercrimes resulting from convergence of Internet devices, hacking of online financial transactions and channels of electronic transactions, online impersonation and terrorism, which utilises Internet to connect members globally.

Hassid further stated that the embassy had met with the Nigeria Governors Forum and discussed matters that required government’s attention and bilateral agreements between the two countries.

The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta, while commending the team for the bilateral relationship between the two nations, stated that the commission would welcome any partnership to mitigate challenges of cybercrimes, security and privacy matters in the app sector.

He further stated that one of the commission’s eight-point agenda was focused on facilitating broadband penetration and ensuring 30 per cent penetration by end of 2018.

Danbatta noted that this would bring unprecedented developments and growth to the telecoms sector, adding that new challenges due to innovative applications requiring expertise and network professionals would emerge.

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